Many of you know that I struggle with getting my son to eat anything but pizza, Chick-Fil-A chicken nuggets, chocolate, store bought pigs in a blanket, pancakes and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I really have to try something new each week to trick him into eating much of anything. I have the Sneaky Chef’s book, but if it doesn’t look like cheese pizza, he’s not going to eat it. I cut things up into cute shapes, build animals and faces with the food. I have even tried rolling meatloaf up into little sausage looking things and making pigs in a blanket. He is so darn stubborn. When I do make him take a tiny baby bite, he gets so upset that he gags throws up!

Recently, I found a great blog with the cutest ideas for serving your kid’s food in muffin tins. I need all the help I can get. So last night I did this…

Believe it or not, he actually ate more tonight than he has in a long time! He didn’t touch the turkey burgers, but he ate his grapes, crackers, half of the carrots, tiny bites of banana and later a pickle and strawberry!

If any of you have more tricks up your sleeves, please let me know! I’m sure this tin thing will get old and he’ll go back to his old ways of gagging and whinning. I mean, common… how can you not like mashed potatoes or spaghetti? His poor future wife may never get to cook anything unless it’s shaped like pizza!

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I’ve been tagged by Michelle at Brain Drops! My first time to be tagged for anything… how exciting.

So here are the rules:

1. Write about 5 specific ways blogging has affected you, either positively or negatively.
2. link back to the person who tagged you
3. link back to this parent post
4. tag a few friends or five, or none at all
5. post these rules— or just have fun breaking them

My 5 reasons for blogging and how it’s affected me:

I only have one negative, I spend way too much time on my computer! yikes! Since I was already doing this before blogging, I won’t count it as my 5. Okay moving on to the good stuff…

1. Friends

I started blogging to keep track of family events because I let my scrapbook get too far behind. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined meeting so many lovely women! That has been one of my favorite positives, making new friends from all over the country. It’s crazy how connected I feel to so many of you. I’ve really enjoyed your family stories, photos, getting to know your personalities, hearing about your struggles and how you get through them. I can’t wait to boot up my best friend, Mac, each morning and see what each of you are doing! Plus, I don’t have many friends who are stuck to their computers like me, so I feel normal when talking to you gals! ha.

2. Inspiration

I get so encouraged and inspired by reading other’s blogs. Whether it be in a creative way or personal way. There are so many neat women out there, it’s amazing! I only know a few handfuls of truly creative people in my real life. The past 10 years, I’ve worked from home and this summer I really began to miss being in a work environment with other creative types. It was so bad that I was beginning to have a mid life crisis! I was craving something more. I couldn’t figure out what it was at the time, but since blogging, I have felt so much better. I just needed to find you artsy fartsy people!! If you are reading this and you think you aren’t creative or artsy… if you have a blog… you are! Blogging is a very creative outlet for anyone, it can bring out your hidden talents for sure. Everyday I find a new busy mom who has something wonderful to share on her blog. We all wear many hats as moms, wives and women in general… it’s very inspiring to see you all doing so many neat things in addition to your everyday life.

3. Creative Outlet

Like I just said, blogging is very big creative outlet. I enjoy writing or creating things to entertain people. I have so many ideas in my head that need to come out! Designs I want to share! It’s so nice to have people appreciate what I have to share:-) And even if you don’t like it, at least I get my brain farts out. (I’m using the word fart a lot here today… sorry… brain gas just doesn’t sound as good.)

4. Learning

I have learned somethings about myself. Who knew I could actually write some witty things? According to some of you… I actually make you laugh at times. Wow! That’s cool. I also love all the tutorials and ideas you all share. Learning how to get my kids to eat, recipe and decorating ideas, computer technology and even Photoshop shortcuts… there is so much to learn here in blog world.

5. Faith

I feel so blessed to have met so many Christian women. I think that is the greatest thing blogging has done for me personally. Getting to know you has helped me grow spiritually as well. I have been so down and felt so alone sometimes, then I read something one of you wrote and I cry with relief. I get so encouraged by your openness. I am surrounded by great Christian women in my life, but never expected to find a whole gang of you online. God is good and I think he has spoken to me through blogging! What a blessing.

* Okay, so now I am supposed to tag some of you. I will choose five new friends who I find hard to believe I didn’t know a few short months ago. I’m not one to send chain type letters out, but would love to hear what you all have to say:-) If you aren’t tagged, please leave a comment on how blogging has affected you.

I’m excited to participate in Melissa’s Fall Nesting Week. There are some great ideas on her site. I don’t want to give away all of my Halloween ideas just yet, so here are some photos that make me happy and I hope will inspire you to get ready for the upcoming season.

Easy Centerpiece

I love antique glasses! You could use any type of pretty glassses, small vases and plates. I need to get some green candles though. I just whipped this together tonight! I have loads of candy corn. It’s my favorite Halloween decor!! The small turkeys are mini salt and pepper shakers.

Outdoor Inspiration

I hope you enjoy my garden as much as me!

Just kidding!!!! I only wish that was my garden. ha! This is just a tiny section of our beautiful Dallas Arboretum. My garden is great, but missing rows of pumpkins and basically blooming flowers right now:-( Check back in a few weeks, I might just get it looking like this.

Favorite Rituals

In Texas, we don’t get “real” fall weather until Thanksgiving. I have a leaf jumping party for the kids in December! Besides our Halloween party, leaf jumping is my other favorite ritual.

Halloween Fun

What a spooktacular tree! I took this photo at my favorite local pumpkin patch.

Do you love Halloween? It’s only September, but it’s never too early to think scary thoughts!

I’m excited to announce I’m hosting a Halloween Blog Party!

October 19 – October 31, 2008

I go all out for Halloween! I couldn’t wait to show you some of my decorations and ideas. Then I thought… why don’t I host a blog party and see all of your ideas too! Starting October 19th, for 13 spooky days, I’ll feature blogs and anyone with photos who want to join the party and show off their Halloween spirit! Then on October 31st, I’ll give away prizes!!! It’s not a party without prizes right? You have plenty of time to think of something original or find old photos from Halloween past. I hope to see lots of spooktacular ideas!

Contest Categories

Best Original CostumeFYI: I’m a sucker for family themes and funny pet costumes!

Creepiest Yard DecorDoes not have to be yours, take a photo of your neighbor’s yard if it’s good!

Most Creative Party IdeaThis includes recipes, decor, games and crafts.

Most BOOtiful Halloween DesignThis includes party invitations, cards and scrapbook pages.

Most Bewitching Halloween Photo As long as it’s Halloween themed… anything goes!

Contest Rules: All entries must be something you produced, not a photo from a magazine or book. Family friendly entries only.

**Check back next week to see the prizes you could win! If you have a fun product you would like to donate, please contact me.

Details on how to participate:

1. If you’re brave enough to participate, please leave a comment on this post so I can get a general idea of who will be partying.

2.Download my party image above and invite your friends and readers to join the party! Make sure to tell them all about it and link back to this web page for more details. The more people who party, the more fun it will be!

3.E-mail a link of your Halloween post to me at halloweenblogparty@me.com Please title the subject “Halloween”.

Try to publish it and send to me on or before Oct. 20th. (the earlier, the better:-) Please provide the link to your actual post, not your home page. I will have to send Dracula to bite your neck if I have to go searching through your site for it. **You can still participate even if you don’t have a web site, just email me your photos and contact info.

4.Be sure to link back to my blog so your readers can get in on this spooktacular event!!

***This is a “FAMILY FRIENDLY” Party***

Please contact me with questions. I’m excited to see your creative ideas!!! I hope a lot of you participate. If not, I guess I get to keep the prizes!! Come back often to get some inspiration.

Before reading my post, I wanted you to know I’ll have an exciting announcement tomorrow!!

Don’t forget to come back to find out what it is!

Now, on to today’s rant…

Recently, I was featured in my sorority’s national magazine. It was titled Mommy Preneurs, a five page article about 18 women from all over the U.S. who are building businesses while raising families. This article introduced me to the term “Mom Prenuer”. I had never heard this before. How is this, since I AM one of these? In the past few months of blogging, I have come across several new terms… things that I am!

Besides being a Mom Prenuer, I am a SAHM (Stay at home Mom) and a WAHM (Work at Home Mom). I googled WAHM and was shocked that there was a whopping 2,000,000 entries for this!

WAHM Online Magazine

WAHM site for Christians

WAHM talk radio

WAHM Networks

WAHM Addicts…

The list goes on and on and on! There are 4,090,000 entries for “SAHM” and 3,800 entries for “Mom Preneur”.

Many sites even make you pay a membership fee to join their support sites. If they are free, there are loads of advertising and contests to attract new visitors. I was shocked by how many people are cashing in on these internet acronyms.

I’ve been a small business owner for nearly 10 years and a work from home mom for over 5 years. I have been far too busy with my business and kids to even think about looking online for support. Heck, I don’t even have time to attend local social networking events or up date my web site… and that’s what I do for a living!!! Create web sites! ha. Guess that’s why I’m surprised all of these WAHM sites exist! Maybe I’ve been really lucky in business that I haven’t had to advertise or look for clients. But, I still can’t believe working moms have time for this stuff.

Call me old fashion, but I prefer the terms Stay at Home Mom, and Work from Home Mom. No acronyms for me, but I will make sure to keep up with the latest ones that pop up. Maybe I can create a web site and make millions! I think I’ll start one called WOFFF (Wives of Fantasy Football Freaks). Okay, if you ever see a support group for this… you know where they stole the idea. ha!